Birds bred for cockfighting - 337 seized
Eustis, FL (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Oct 30, 2007
County: Lake
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Manuel Cirilo
» Oberlin Cirilo
A Eustis father and son face hundreds of charges in connection to a cockfighting operation. The Lake County Sheriff's Office says Manuel and Oberlin Cirilo were breeding birds for profit. Police said they found 337 roosters and hens and $6,000 in cash at their home on Lester Way.
The bust was the culmination of two-month investigation. Lake County deputies said they were led to the home by a Crimeline tip.
Each of the Cirilos is being held on a $1.2 million bond. They didn't want to talk to Eyewitness News Tuesday, but a judge decided their birds were only fit for fighting and must be euthanized.
"When they fight, they fight to the death," explained Sgt. Robert Hornsby, Lake County Sheriff's Office.
For deputies, evidence found inside the Lake County home, cockfighting magazines, needles, steroids and metal spurs, left no doubt as to what was going on there. Lake County sheriff's deputies collected 337 roosters and hens from the property that had been bred and groomed for fighting.
"There's no other reason to have a bird like this except for fighting," Hornsby said. "Their combs on the top of their heads have been clipped. That keeps them from bleeding out too quick. Their spurs have been trimmed. So they're strictly being maintained as fighting birds."
Hornsby told Eyewitness News a prize fighter can be sold for as much as $1,500.
In addition to all the fighting material, deputies also found $6,000 in cash. Manuel Cirilo and his son Oberlin are charged with animal cruelty and possession of paraphernalia. They are each facing a total 391 third-degree felony counts and each count can carry a maximum sentence of five years and a $5,000 fine.
Deputies don't believe any cockfighting happened on the Lester Way property, only breeding. References« FL State Animal Cruelty Map
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